Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Local and landscape predictors of fish-assemblage characteristics in the Great Swamp, New York
Author(s)
Van Holt, T.; Murphy, D.M.; Chapman, L.
Published
2006
Publisher
Northeastern Naturalist
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1656/1092-6194(2006)13[353:LALPOF]2.0.CO;2
Abstract
We used local and landscape models to predict fish assemblages in the Great Swamp, NY, a region undergoing rapid development. Fish were surveyed across 17 sites. Fish-species richness, diversity, percent intolerant species, and IBI metrics for fish species richness, benthic insectivores, terete minnows, and dominant species were calculated. Local stream features were characterized and surrounding land cover/use was quantified at four different scales (reach, segment, network, and watershed). Regression analysis and multinomial cumulative logit models were used to predict how fish assemblages varied according to habitat characteristics. Within the local variables, pool variability predicted diversity and epifaunal substrate/available cover predicted percent intolerant species and IBI metrics for fsh species richness, benthic insectivores, and terete minnows. The scale of analysis influenced which landscape-level predictors measuring percent wetland, forest cover, or residential land use best explained diversity, percent intolerant species, and IBI metrics for benthic insectivores, terete minnows, and dominant species. Although no single model (local or landscape) best predicted assemblages, the land cover/use at the segment (100-m buffer for 1 km upstream) scale provides sufficient information about fish assemblages to support this scale as optimal for regional land-use planners. Our findings show that forest cover should be maintained to protect fish assemblages in the Great Swamp and development that alters stream-habitat heterogeneity should be curtailed.
Keywords
Cypriniformes; MULTIPLE SPATIAL SCALES; BIOTIC INTEGRITY; STREAM HABITAT; UNITED-STATES; COMMUNITIES; IMPACTS; INDEX
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB12186